Sen. Harry Reid furious over China-made Olympic team uniforms

Sen. Harry Reid speaks to community members attending the 2012 Democratic Caucus Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, at Cheyenne High School.

Sen. Harry Reid is ripping that the U.S. Olympic team’s opening ceremony uniforms are made in China — so much so that he’d rather see American athletes show up for the London ceremonies in original Olympian nude than sport threads made by the United States' biggest economic competitor.

“Put 'em in a pile and burn 'em,” Reid said of the uniforms, which an ABC report revealed Wednesday are designed by U.S. designer Ralph Lauren, but made in China. “If they have to wear nothing but a singlet that says ‘USA,’ that’s what they should do.”

There are too many Americans in the textile manufacturing industry suffering because of outsourcing to China, Reid explained, to allow for the Olympic team’s uniforms to be made anywhere but in the United States.

“I think the Olympic committee should be ashamed of themselves,” Reid said.

This is not, however, a unique state of events. The 2008 U.S. Olympic team’s opening ceremony uniforms were also designed by Ralph Lauren and also made in China.

But four years ago, the summer Olympics were in China, and we in the United States hadn’t yet been walloped with the worst thrashes of the recession (those would start a few weeks later). This time around, economic realities make such diplomatic goodwill a luxury manufacturers, and their supporters in Congress, can’t tolerate.

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Harry Reid is absolutely right...In other news Harry Reid thinks that the Lady Luck is a disgrace to the Las Vegas skyline and has proposed legislation to have it demolished. In it's place he has proposed a nuclear fallout shelter designed dome to prove that nuclear waste stored in Nevada is completely safe. The new casino will feature U.S.A. made concrete American flags as well as American made yellow radiation warning symbols which will high-lite the entrance and exit of the new casino. Other casinos in the area are concerned with Mr. Reid's plan and hearings on the proposal may divide Vegas casino owners. When Mr. Reid's office was contacted about this story his staff was of course annoyed and denied any such proposals are currently being considered. When asked about the decay rate of nuclear waste and the cost of health care for down-winders Mr. Reid's assistant hung up on this reporter.......Nothing to see here move along......TBC........

I guess Harry Reid has not heard about free trade. The MODERN world today trade with every nation and I don't think US is exempt. The US collects billions of dollars in tariffs why do you think you pay so much for some products like tires, there is a 65% tariffs on foreign tires. I like to know more about Harry Reid's wealth and his family's wealth and how much of it is a result of the taxpayers and legislation he has passed in 26 years in office.

Get to work Harry! Our teams are privately funded and any help these kids get to be able to participate in the Olympics is appreciated. Look at the tag inside your own jacket man! But why burn any of your $1,500.00 suites right? We need you to concentrate on the economy and on creating jobs old man!

I am ashamed of HarryWhen we should be valuing our American athletes he just bashes them.For someone who has over 40 bills to vote on;For someone who has refused to do a budget for the US;for someone who refuses to work well with othersReid could have made friends with people who run the OLympics and worked with them in advance to choose an appropriate uniformbut the usual HarryBash everyone - and do no work for the American peopleor the people who work in the US.SHame on Harry.

Wasn't Harry and the Clark County democrats the ones that pushed through the communist China solar plants in Laughlin? Borrowed money from communist China to buy smart meters made in Mexico to install on Americans rate payers homes? This old donkey needs some serious pasture time.

Good for Harry The rest of you Bozo's better wake up and smell the roses. The reason China is an economic power is because 90% of what is produced in China is consumed there. Most of the stuff from China is junk to start with. When they send us lead base paint toys dog food that kills our pets and sheet rock that molds to the wall you are all screaming for Harry and colleagues to do something about that. People need to stop speaking out of both side of their mouths. Shopping at W=Mart all of the time is shopping your self out of a job. The Billionaires who own these companies that outsource the jobs are the same ones who pour in big $$$$ to the GOP so they know they will be protected. The people inside the uniforms were made in the USA so should the clothing.

That is funny Barry! "The Billionaires who own these companies that outsource the jobs are the same ones who pour in big $$$$ to the GOP...Blah, blah, blah..."! Your super hero, your champion of the democrats, your savior of the human race...Harry Reid and the prez!...But wait! What is this I see?...Harry Reid and President Obama allow CHINA, yes that's right, CHINA, to bypass wall street banks and buy US debt directly from them!...HYPOCRITES are those who can blah, blah, blah about how great their side is without finding facts! ...http://www.allgov.com/US_and_the_World/ViewNews/Obama_Administration_Allows_China_to_Become_First_Country_to_Buy_Debt_Directly_from_Treasury_Dept_120523

I'm glad that Reid is upset over this, I am too. But I am much more upset that Reid and every single other member of Congress hasn't done jack squat to address the reasons why we buy so much of our goods from China (with the resulting loss of manufacturing jobs here) in the first place!

Go ahead and raise hell, Harry, but we all want you to actually do something about it!

Hey Harry - How about letting an American company be profitable and maybe we could get some uniforms made in the USA.

Did anyone see that Beechcraft just went bankrupt, and sold out to a Chinese company! Go figure! If the employees and the government are going to eat every last bit of a company's profitability, then get ready for everything to be made in china. I guess the government could legislate a fix, get ready for that next.

A government that makes the problem and legislates the fix is just what old Harry wants. He gets to make money on both ends.

I would be interested to know if this change to China made Olympic uniforms has anything to do with Romney's tenure with the Olympics or if Bain or Romney own any part of the Chinese company manufacturing or selling the uniforms. Reid is right to question the sanity of our American Team wearing clothing manufactured in China. Thank you Senator Reid!

By the way, if Harry is so upset over this, why did he work so hard to get a Chinese solar panel firm here in Nevada instead of enabling a US firm to do the same? (Or was Solyndra his only other choice?)

While we're at it lets throw Harry into the fire also the jerk. Why isn't he doing his job instead of getting involved with non-issues. Who cares if they were made in China, don't they own us already with all the nearly $16 trillion debt we owe. Look at the military some of their clothing is made in India and Pakistan.

The high cost of labor has made the United States uncompetitive in the global economy. SWB (salaries, wages & benefits) remains the top expenses in most medium to large businesses. Our society has evolved to the point that they are unable to function without cheap technology products. Try to tell someone under the age of 30 that their new iphone is going to cost them $1,000 or more.Made in America does not mean what it used to anymore. I recently purchased a new American made car. On the origination documents, 90% of the components were manufactured in other countries, yet a sticker on my window says "Made in Michigan with pride." This in essence makes the "American" car companies no different from Honda or Toyota that are manufactured in the US.The trade imbalance (and global economic disadvantage) will persist until a majority of politicians (dem or rep) become less concerned about re-election and retaining incumbent status and become willing to go out on a limb and say this is what our country needs at the risk of alienating the very significant union voting block.

@Danno, "Made in America does not mean what it used to anymore. I recently purchased a new American made car. On the origination documents, 90% of the components were manufactured in other countries, yet a sticker on my window says "Made in Michigan with pride."

Yes, many things made here are really only assembled here, with parts made elsewhere.

The same goes with come clothing. Some of our trade deals require that pieces of a garment are sown in other countries, but not assembled. The are to be assembled only in the U.S. When you consider how fast a garment can be assembled, and how low the cost for the foreign piece work, the price for garments have a good profit margin.

Same goes for processing. Coffee for example. Trade deals require that only the beans can be exported to the U.S. Some other countries cannot export processed coffee. We must process the beans.

Sure, we can buy beans for ourselves on the Internet, and some of them are fair trade, but most people don't bother.

People are interested in Free Trade not Fair Trade.

Personally, I think this flap is hypocritical in light of our trade agreements, and that the USOC being a private organization.

Harry is right, as usual.Some people would say Harry is full of it if he said the sky is blue, because...THEY HATE HARRY.'Made In China' uniforms for our Olympians?THAT IS shameful. And probably inferior quality, but who cares if they're 'cheaper', right?'Sponsors' of our Olympians should take a bow, as well...is that the 'BEST WE CAN DO'???I'm sure Thurston Howell-Romney is proud as a PEACOCK!!!

These politicians are complete idiots. Reid is a complete idiot. We live in a global economy. Where was your suit made, Harry Ried? America? I doubt it! If the Senate burned all their clothes that were made in China, most of them would be naked!! Reminds me of these PETA morons that go around whining about furs while they tote their leather bags, and walk around with leather belts and shoes.

@Open Range: The Olympics haven't started yet. What you are watching are "time trials" and those sappy background stories.

@peacelilly: That's been happening for years now. GM's Canada factories build for BOTH countries; in fact, my manual refers to "Canadian Model" or "In Canada...." quite a bit. This is nothing new.

This WHOLE fiasco is NOT the fault of the Government or the politicians. It is the fault of the U.S. Olympic Committee and Ralph Lauren, who they insist on constantly using even though his designers suck. Ralph Lauren wants to make a profit - so China it is. There are plenty of clothing manufacturers here in the United States and my guess is NO ONE, from the Olympic COmmittee to Lauren's corporation, approached them on making the uniforms and at what cost.

It is a horrible travesty. Not to mention - the uniforms SUCK BIG TIME!!! Other than Green Berets and the Girl Scouts - who wears berets today?? The Von Trapp Family Singers in "Sound of Music" had more stylish "uniforms" made out of curtains then these ugly things the athletes will have to wear

Time to apply pressure on the US Olympic Committee to offer Citizens information, choices, and opportunities towards supporting American athletes!

We are all happy to support through our purchases as we consume products and services here. Not once, have I seen a contest, or a "What do you think?" on the USA athlete's uniforms, or even asking to contribute towards facilities or equipment. Could be I missed it, but I do try to read or watch to be current.

Since Senator Reid is SO UPSET with these US Olympic uniforms not being made in the USA, he should propose replacing them with "Made in the USA/America" uniforms, and open bidding for it, and along with that, him contribute to it, as well as opening up contributing to those who are also "upset" over this.

Hey, if Romney used the Salt Lake Moots company in the past, and I assume this is an LDS Moron company, they would likely welcome again this opportunity to demonstrate their patriotism and commitment to American made products. Just saying.

Peacelily got it right, "However, since the Olympics in the U.S. is a private organization, and costs the government nothing, I think they can choose to do as they please.

If we want the government to sponsor the U.S. Olympic team, as some other countries do for their teams, we have a right to criticize where the uniforms are manufactured.

If not, it is just another business outsourcing decision made by a private organization."

I was very concerned about Pinky ysterday when the reports about a raving chimp started to appear. Where is the budget, Pinky? Why are we trillions of dollars in debt to the Chinese? How much are you making from the Chinese-financed solar projects?

China shouldn't manufacture the uniforms. But if the senator had his way he would have them manufactured right there in Vegas on Fremont Street in some sweat shop so the illegal immigrants could take more American jobs and he can go after those precious Latino votes we all keep hearing about,

and the typical brainwashed Fox News consumer thinks the reason for all this has to do with the Unions. The crooks destroy Labor, push Globalism where Americans get bent over without tariff protections, but to the stupid people it is the fault of Americans in Unions. And they wonder why thinking people laugh at them?

This is one time I completely agree with Harry.

There is absolutely no excuse for allowing this type of blunder. It is a slap in the face to ALL US workers.

If you read all the comments from the Cons on this thread, the common theme is "destroy America", "bash America", "say China could write a budget" "blame American workers", and these people wonder why actual Americans accuse them of cheering for the destruction of the Republic?